Where would Jesus hang out?

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Most people wouldn't think of going to church to get a cup of gourmet coffee and a bite to eat, read the newspaper and chat with friends.

One local church is hoping to change that, though patrons may never realize they are in a church building.

The National Community Church, a Capitol Hill nondenominational Christian church, opened Ebenezers Coffeehouse at Second and F streets Northeast this month to further its mission to live in and serve the community where members work, live and shop.

"If Jesus were living in our culture, he would probably hang out in coffeehouses," said the Rev. Mark Batterson, lead pastor at National Community and the leader of the coffeehouse's development. "The coffeehouse is an extension and expression of who we've been the past nine years."

National Community Church was founded in 1996 and gathers for worship services in the AMC Theatres at Union Station and the Regal Cinemas at Ballston Common Mall. Church members view operating a coffee shop in a formerly run-down area, one block east of Union Station, as a way to improve their neighborhood.

"This is a $2.5 million investment in our community," Mr. Batterson said. "We serve the people who live and work in our neighborhood."

The coffeehouse will do business as a for-profit organization, paying taxes on all sales. But all profits will go toward the church's community outreach work, Mr. Batterson said, including an Easter egg hunt next month.

National Community Church gathered funds to purchase the property four years ago for $325,000. The building was constructed in 1908 as a restaurant serving butter and eggs to train passengers. But over the past 20 years, the building became an eyesore that attracted drug dealers, Mr. Batterson said.

The church and its members -- nearly three-quarters of which are single twenty-somethings -- poured $2 million more into renovating the space around two of the original walls that historic preservationists said must remain.

Today, the 6,500-square-foot building has traditional coffeehouse seating on the first floor. The second floor houses church offices, and the basement handles overflow coffeehouse seating. On Saturday evenings, the basement is converted into space for worship services and other community events. During the summer, Ebenezers also will have outdoor seating.